SPITTING fire at a United National Congress (UNC) community meeting at Jerningham Junction on April 2, incumbent MP for Chaguanas East Vandana Mohit drew battlelines and sent a clear message to her main opponent, PNM’s Richie Sookhai, that she will “wipe him out” come April 28.
“You see this little girl called Vandana Mohit, don’t get tie up. I get rid of one old man Clarence Rambharat, (former agriculture minister who fought and lost the seat to her in 2020) and they bring a middle age something for me. I will wipe him out on April 28.
“I take down Clarence Rambharat, who you think is Richie?” she asked her audience who gathered at Gibson Street.
“If I have to work every hour until April 28, I give you the assurance I will do it, and I am already doing it.”
Chaguanas East is in a four-way fight with the UNC, PNM, Patriotic Front and the NTA fielding candidates.
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But Mohit, a former Chaguanas mayor called on the community not to take the seat for granted and declare “Vandana in already,” but come out and vote for her. She compelled them not to split the votes but focus on a two-party fight.
Identifying Sookhai, a former Chaguanas Chamber president, as her main opponent she said he does not have a track record of service. She said even as head of the business group, he was out of reach.
She said Sookhai did not know which constituency he lives in and questioned if he could make that error, whether he was capable of representing the community.
She outlined her tenure over the past five years, stating that in the sun, rain and during the pandemic, she has been with the people supporting them.
Mohit said she built more than five homes for fire victims; accessed housing grants; helped provide housing material with the assistance of the business community; helped to get water connections; got street lights repaired; assisted with NIS and pension forms and social support; and gave out hampers on a monthly basis.
A 17-year-old constituent, Celine Boodram also mounted the platform to express heartfelt gratitude for “Auntie Van”, who provided the resources so she could continue her education.
“Without her help, my dream for a bright future could not be fulfilled.”
Earlier in the meeting, Mohit was endorsed by Marlon Matura, president of the Jerningham Junction Farmers Association, as a beacon of light.
She recalled an incident where farmers "were abandoned" by the ministries of Agriculture and Works and Transport, which Sookhai was a part of.
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She said with the assistance of the business community, she was able to raise $35,000 to clear water courses so farmers could feed the community.
“I do not discriminate between PNM and UNC. I serve everyone with dignity and pride," she said, giving as an example the booting out of the Cerebral Palsy Society by government from a building the UNC built.
She said after the insistence of her political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a temporary space was found for the group to continue therapy.
Mohit said she negotiated with the business community for a permanent building to house the society.
Mohit promised when the UNC gets into government, she would establish a studio in the constituency so people can record their music.
Support for her re-election came from colleague Saddam Hosein, who spoke of her tremendous strength inside of the Parliament, when they were the focus of attack from the PNM bench.
UNC's Couva South candidate Barry Padarath described Mohit as a firebrand, effervescent, strong woman, who came to the Parliament along with Hosein as newbies, but in a short time, had become an MP of class, contributing to well researched debates with eloquence.
Also endorsing Mohit, candidate for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal called supporters to reject Prime Minister Stuart Young’s narrative to write a new chapter with him and PNM in the general election.
Moonilal said there can be no new chapter as it is a continuation of the same story in an "old book of poverty, crime, a broken health system, collapsed economy and joblessness.
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“It is not a new era they are coming with, but a new error.”
He said the general election is critical as it is all about saving TT and choosing a prime minister who can ensure a future for the country.
